None Righteous, No, Not One

 

None Righteous, No, Not One

Scripture: Romans 3:10–12 (KJV)

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way...there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Personal Reflection

One of the greatest obstacles to understanding the gospel is an inflated view of ourselves. Modern culture constantly tells us that people are basically good, that deep down everyone possesses a spark of righteousness, and that if given the proper opportunities they will naturally choose what is right. Yet God's Word paints an entirely different picture. Romans 3 strips away every illusion of human goodness and declares that there is "none righteous, no, not one."

This is not God's description of the worst criminals but of the entire human race apart from His saving grace. We naturally suppress the truth, pursue our own desires, and rebel against God's holy law. Left to ourselves, we do not seek Him because our hearts love sin more than holiness. This diagnosis humbles us, but it also prepares us to appreciate the magnificence of God's grace.

Until we understand the depth of our sin, we will never fully value the greatness of our Savior. Those who believe they are only slightly sick will seek only a slight remedy. But those who realize they are spiritually dead will rejoice that Christ came to give life to the dead.

The doctrine of depravity destroys pride while magnifying grace. It reminds us that salvation is entirely of the Lord. We did not rescue ourselves, improve ourselves, or make ourselves acceptable to God. Christ accomplished everything necessary for our redemption, and we receive that salvation through faith alone.

The lower we bow before God's holy verdict concerning our sin, the higher Christ is exalted in our hearts.

Contemplation

Have I honestly accepted God's assessment of my sinful condition, or do I still compare myself with other people instead of His perfect holiness?

Puritan Quote

Thomas Watson wrote:

"Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet."

Prayer

Holy Father, remove every trace of pride from my heart. Help me to see myself as Your Word describes me so that I may treasure Christ all the more. Thank You for providing a righteousness I could never earn. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application

Read Romans 3:9–26 today and underline every statement describing man's condition apart from Christ and every statement describing God's gracious provision in Christ.